Birding at Estero Llano State Park

The Northern Bird Migration has been going on and we have been seeing new birds all the time flying through. Many grace us with their presence for awhile as they rest and get nourishment before they head out again. We decided to see who was hanging around Estero Llano today.

The bird to try to find here for some time now has been the Elegant Trogon. She managed to get here but she is the only one that came this way. I don't know anyone has seen one here before. Thus, people constantly ask each person they pass if they have seen the Elegant Trogon.  We were lucky enough to see her before but today we had to luck finding her. I don't know how she ended up here but she seems pretty content. The only problem is that she is the only one of her kind in the Valley. I hope she manages to get back home okay. Maybe she could bring a partner with her next season.

We did see quite a few other birds today. 

These were taken at the pond next to the Check In Station

Black-necked Stilt

Spotted Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

Now we are walking down the trail to the Bird Blind

I love these really airy looking trees. 

Great Horned Owl

We saw her the last time we were here but couldn't get as good a picture. Then she was guarding all her little owlets. Today the owlets were off on their own but we couldn't see any of them. 

Black Bellied Whistling Duck

We've heard of "birds on a wire" but "ducks on a wire" never!

The following were taken at the Bird Blind

Altimore Oriole

Black Chinned Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

White winged Doves

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

White winged Dove (ruffled up above) 

White-winged Dove

Green Jay (above and below)

We left the bird blind and we are heading on the main trail. It goes in all directions, but we are heading to Alligator Lake.

King of the Hill - The Great Blue Heron

Great Tailed Grackle

 Red-winged Black Bird Eastern Subspecies

Chihuahuan Raven

House Sparrow

Neotropic Cormorant (above and below)

After the long trip to the deck overlooking the Alligator Pond, there was nothing to see. Nothing on the water or anything we could see in the brush. Once when we were here in the spring, we saw a Mama Alligator with many young ones. Also, we saw lots of water fowl and I especially remember an Anhinga sitting drying her wings. However, the water is really high and that may have discouraged a lot of them. I'm not sure how it got so high because we haven't seen much rain. However, we were there just a little while and another couple arrived and we chatted awhile. They asked if we saw the alligator at the entrance to the path. We. of course, had not or there would be a picture. They came back with us to show us where it was. It was right at the entrance to the trail to the Alligator Pond - right near the sign. It was one of the babies and was hidden in the grasses. 

The youngster was still asleep. I hope he learns to stick around his lake in the back. I'd hate to run across him on this trail especially when he is full grown!